Pediatric urine collector



Jan. 30, 1968 c. M. ucK 3,366,116

PEDIATRIC URINE COLLECTOR Filed March 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Min/J d Jan. 30, 1968 c. M. HUCK 3,366,116

PEDIATRIC URINE COLLECTOR Filed March 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

flwmM A TTOR/VEYJ United States Patent 3,366,116 PEDIATRIC URINE COLLECTOR Charles M. Huck, 109 Chestnut St., Bound Brook, NJ. 08805 Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 438,938 9 Claims. (Cl. 128295) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pediatric urine collector in which the plastic sheet material is seamed down each side with folds in the middle of the front and back walls, the bottom being closed by a seam extending between said folds and intersecting the side seams, and the top being closed by an expansible gusset, adapted to provide fullness in the upper part of the collector when in use; the basic construction being adaptable, by the addition of a small wedge-like projection in the form designed for female infants, to the complete elimination of leakage in the lower perineal area.

The invention relates to a pediatric urine collector.

Objects of the invention include the design of the device for economy in manufacture, the provision of a device which may be packaged and stored in a compact manner and is easy to apply, reliable and comfortable in use, and the provision of a basic new collector body, for short-term use in its simpler form by male infants and for short-term use with an important added element by female infants.

Efforts heretofore to provide a single form of collector intended for use on either male or female infants have not been completely successful because anatomical differences exist and cannot be ignored. A collector designed for male use requires substantial distortion in being engaged with the areas adjacent the female uro-genital organ, and one designed for the latter purpose would be quite unsuited for male use. The devices disclosed herein are made in full recognition of these facts, permitting selection of the collector type best suited for use in either case.

One problem frequently arising in the use of previously known pediatric urine collectors is that of leakage between the labia in the lower perineal area where the conformation of the female infant does not lend itself to the creation of a tight seal between the deep groove in the skin and the fiat adhesive surface normally provided. The addition of a small wedge-like projection in the modified (female) form of collector shown herein very largely overcomes the leakage problem, since this projection can be caused to fill the groove or skin fold completely and tightly. This feature also reduces the possibility of contamination of the specimen by fecal matter.

A special feature of importance is the provision of a gusseted top, without seams, resulting in such fullness that the upper portion of the collector can readily expand to form a chamber, if desired, the walls of which may be out of contact with the organs-male or female-over which the collector is fitted, or at least do not press against said organs.

The nominal working capacity not including air space in the upper part, may be from 30 to 50 cc. for normal duration of use (from two to five hours) by infants, from birth to about 2 years of age. The collector is not intended as a diaper substitute, but is used to collect specimens for analysis, when indicated.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 represents a side elevation of the male collector;

FIG. 2 represents a front elevation of the male collector, parts being separated and turned back;

FIG. 3 represents a horizontal cross-section on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

3,366,116 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 ice FIG. 4 represents a side elevation of the female collector;

FIG. 5 represents a front elevation of the female collector, parts being broken away and other parts being separated and turned back; and

FIG, 6 represents a horizontal cross-section on the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the collector is conveniently formed from a single strip of heat-scalable plastic (polyethylene) to provide a front wall 1, a back wall 2 and a triple-fold gusset 3 connecting the front and back walls at the top. The walls 1 and 2 and the sides of the gusset 3 are firmly sealed by the vertical scams 4, 4 and the bottom is closed by the seam 5 which is preferably disposed at an angle such that the bottom of the collector comes to a point 6 at the base of the front wall, while the seams 4, 4 join at the point 7 where they are intersected by the seam 5.

The gusset 3 is most conveniently formed as an integral continuation of the front and back walls having an M- form in cross-section with a fold 8 in the middle and with the edges above the fold 8 sealed into the side seams 4, 4. When the upper part of the collector is flattened in the plane of FIG. 2 the gusset is fiat, providing four layers of material in the area above the fold 8 as compared to two layers below that fold. When the collector is turned and more or less flattened in the plane of FIG. 1 (i.e., the plane of the seam 5) the gusset upsets into approximately the form shown in FIG. 1, the residual distortion of the gusset in this form causing it to have a somewhat expansive effect on the upper portion of the collector when applied, as explained below.

Adhesion to the body of the user is effected by the provision of a thin square piece of double-faced adhesive material 9 affixed to the upper part of the front wall 1 and protected, prior to use, by the backing paper 10. An opening 11, shown in this form as being circular, is cut through the backing paper 10, material 9 and front wall 1.

In applying the collector of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which is packaged flat in the form of FIG. 1, the upper ends of the scams 4, 4 are grasped and pulled apart somewhat-40- ward but not to the position of FIG. 2; the backing paper 10 is peeled off, and the exposed adhesive surface of the material 9 is pressed firmly onto the previously cleaned and dried scrotal area, with the male uro-genital organ disposed in the opening 11 and easily accommodated within the expanded upper portion of the collector.

The female form of collector (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) comprises a front wall 12, back wall 13, gusset 14, vertical seams 15, 15 and bottom seam 16, all like the corresponding parts of the male collector previously described except for a difference in the shape of the opening, to be described, In addition to the common features, the female collector is provided with a wedge-like darn formed in part by the application of a soft plastic (e.g., vinyl) strip 17 along the lower inner edge of the double-faced adhesive material 18, the strip 17 being covered by the adhesive material 18 and the latter being covered by the backing paper 19. The material 18, strip 17 and paper 19 are applied to the front wall 12 in such a manner that the vertical medial fold of this sub-assembly, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, coincides with the fold in the wall 12 only at the top and slants outwardly so that there is an offset of about A" at the bottom. A pear-shaped opening 20 is cut through the wall 12, material 18 and paper 19. At the base of the opening the material 18 (offset from the wall 12 as just described) is pinched and partially adhered together to form a closed fold 21, below which the fold opens somewhat toward the lower edge of the material 18 where the strip 17 is applied, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In applying the collector of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to the cleaned and dried skin surface, the collector is opened as before, the paper 19 is removed, the adhesivefaced wedge-like dam is fitted snugly into the groove between the labia in the lower perineal area just above the rectum and below the vagina, and the remaining exposed adhesive surfaces are pressed firmly into a conforming engagement with the skin around the upper genitalia.

Upon removal of either form of collector the upper part may be folded down to cover or close the opening, thus maintaining the cleanliness of the specimen. Such closure is not liquid-tight but reduces the danger of spilling while conveying the specimen to the laboratory where the collector is emptied by cutting off the lower point 6.

The design of the collector is such that point 6 could be cut off and replaced by drainage tube or tube adapter, for longer-term use, but the adhesive securement is normally not dependable over extended periods. The collectors are so inexpensive and so easily replaced that they may be considered primarily short-term disposable appliances.

It should also be understood that various changes may be made in the structure, material and precise arrangement of the several parts of the collector without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence, I do not intend the coverage of the patent to be limited to the details hereinabove described except as the same may be included in the claims or be required by disclosure of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A pediatric urine collector comprising front and back wall portions vertically sealed together along their side edges, an M-shaped gusset connecting the upper ends of said wall portions, and providing fullness at the top of the collector and closing completely the upper end thereof, the front wall portion being provided with an opening spaced from its upper end, and a bottom seal extending between the middle of the front wall portion and the middle of the back wall portion.

2. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 1 in which the vertical seal lines terminate downwardly at a common point in the bottom seal.

3. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 1 in which the bottom seal is angled downwardly from the middle of the back wall to a lower point in the middle of the front wall.

4. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 3 in which the vertical seal lines terminate downwardly at a common point in the middle of the bottom seal.

5. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 1 which includes a sheet of double-faced adhesive material afiixed to the upper part of the front wall portion, said material being traversed by an opening substantially coinciding with the opening in the front wall portion.

6. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 5 in which the adhesive material is pinched together at the base of the opening to form a closed fold projecting outwardly from the front wall portion.

7. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 6 which includes an additional strip of flexible plastic material aflixed to the inner surface of said fold and extending horizontally across said surface.

8. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 6 in which the fold is closed at its upper end adjacent the base of the opening and opens downwardly to constitute a wedge-like projection.

9. A pediatric urine collector according to claim 8 which includes an additional strip of flexible plastic material afiixed to the inner surface of said fold and extending horizontally across the lower portion thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,484 6/ 1953 Johnson 128295 3,077,883 2/1963 Hill -295 3,189,252 6/1965 Miller 128-275 3,200,415 8/1965 Breece 128-295 3,292,626 12/ 1966 Schneider 128295 FOREIGN PATENTS 855,804 12/1960 Great Britain. 960,532 6/1964 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Examiner. 

